Locked in a lifelong rivalry, Lena and Theo go way back - but do they really know each other?
When Theo goes to college, leaving Elena, his best friend's annoying sister he grew up with, behind at his home town, he thinks that she will never be in...
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It's finally the day I have to go to LA. I'm standing at the airport, clutching my bag tightly, my mind a whirlwind of emotions.
Oliver and Jake have been incredibly supportive since telling them about the call from the Lakers. But I still haven't told Elena.
She thinks I'm out of town because I went to visit my mom and I hate lying to her but I had to. I don't think it's a good idea to talk about L.A. yet. Not when I don't even know what I'm doing yet.
Actually, most importantly, I haven't told my mom. She always wanted the best for me, and I couldn't face letting her down if things didn't go as planned.
The flight is a blur of nerves and anticipation. I barely notice the scenery below as we soar through the sky. My mind keeps replaying the possibilities, the hopes, and the fears.
What if I'm not good enough? What if this changes everything with Elena and my friends?
When the plane finally gets to LA, I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.
I grab my bag and head outside where a car is waiting to take me to the hotel.
The drive through the city is surreal. Tall palm trees line the streets, the iconic Hollywood sign looming in the distance. It all feels like a dream.
I can imagine myself living here, I think to myself.
At the hotel, I check in and drop my bag in the room. There are a few hours until my meeting, so I try to relax, but it's quite literally impossible so I end up pacing the room, going over everything in my head, replaying my speech.
Finally, it's time. I change into my best suit, trying to look my best and head to the meeting location. As I walk into the building, I'm greeted by Ryle Stevens himself.
"Theodore, it's great to see you," he says, shaking my hand firmly. "How was your flight?"
"Hello, Ryle. It's great to see you too. It was nerve-wrecking, but I made it," I admit, trying to smile.
Ryle chuckles.
"Understandable. Come on, let's head to the conference room. We have some people eager to meet you."
We walk through hallways, and I try to absorb everything around me. This is where some of the greatest players have walked, and now I'm here.
In the conference room, I'm introduced to several key members of the organization. They're all friendly and welcoming, which helps to ease my nerves a bit.
We sit down, and they start talking about the team, the opportunities, and how they see me fitting in.
"We've watched your games, Theo," Ryle says. "You have a unique talent, a drive that we admire. We think you could bring a lot to the Lakers. How do you feel about joining us?"
I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of their words.
"I'm honored, really. This has been my dream for as long as I can remember."
They smile, nodding in approval.
"That's what we like to hear."
"However, I should tell you that I haven't made my decision yet. There's a lot that comes with me moving here and I need to wrap my mind around it. Is it okay if I give you an answer later?" I ask.
"Of course, we understand. We can give you three weeks, how is that for you?" Ryle suggests.
"That's perfect. I can make it work." I finally agree.
As the meeting wraps up, I feel a mixture of relief and exhilaration. This is really happening. Ryle walks me out, clapping me on the back.
"You did great in there, Theo. Enjoy your time in L.A., and we'll be in touch soon."
"Thanks, Ryle," I say, genuinely grateful. "Whatever I end up deciding, I appreciate the opportunity."
As I step outside, I pull out my phone, and for a moment, I hesitate. Then, I dial my mom's number. She answers on the second ring.
"Theo! Hi, sweetheart, how are you?" she asks, her voice filled with warmth and love.
"Hey, Mom," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "I've got some news."
"Oh? What's going on?"
"I'm in L.A.," I start, feeling the words catch in my throat.
"What? L.A.? What are you doing there, Theodore?"
"I got a call from the Lakers. The basketball team? They wanted me to come out for a meeting."
There's a moment of stunned silence on the other end.
"The Lakers? Theo, that's amazing! Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I didn't want to get anyone's hopes up," I admit. "I wasn't sure it was real. But I just had the meeting, and it went really well. They're interested in having me join the team."
"Oh, honey, I'm so proud of you!" she exclaims, her voice breaking with emotion. "This is everything you've worked for. I knew you could do it."
"Thanks, Mom," I say, feeling a lump in my throat. "It means a lot. I just didn't want to let you down if it didn't work out."
"You could never let me down, Theo. You've already achieved so much. Just follow your heart and do what's best for you."
"I will," I promise. "I just wanted you to know. I'll keep you updated on everything."
"Please do. And remember, we're all rooting for you here. We love you so much. Starlie misses you already."
"I love you too, mom," I say, a smile spreading across my face. "and I also miss Starlie. I'll talk to you soon."
As I hang up, with my mom's words of encouragement ringing in my ears, I feel better about the situation and try to think about it more clearly.
I text my girlfriend telling her that I'm okay and ask how things are going back in New York. After I turn off my phone, I look at my surroundings and overthink everything once again.
Maybe I can have both Elena and L.A., right?
I just need to find a way to talk to her about this and figure it out.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE
I truly feel like I'm losing sight of what I'm writing at this point. I don't know what to do anymore. I know the scenes I want to write yet but I just feel like everything is being rushed, you know? I don't want this to be bad but I don't even know what to do anymore.
Anyways, thank you for sticking around, I appreciate every single one of you that takes time to read ALLURINGLY.
